Sustainable Textiles Resources
Sara Idacavage Kicks off CHG Sustainability Challenge
Sara Idacavage, UGA Instructor of Record, spoke on UNRAVELING FASHION HISTORY AND SUSTAINABILITY for the March meeting. She provided an overview and historical context for a very broad and impactful line of inquiry for everyone – especially fiber artists.
CHG will begin a Sustainability Challenge in May, beginning with a mini-workshop and culminating in a competition – details to follow.
Stay tuned on this page for links and information related to the very deep and complicated topic of Sustainable Fashion – assessing the environmental and human impact of our choices around fashion and textiles.
Definitions
Repurpose – Repurposing is the use of something for a purpose other than its original intended use.
- Turning jeans into tote bags
Recycling – Recycling converts a material into something of roughly the same value as it originally was.
- Frogging sweaters to make yarn for weaving or knitting
Upcycling – Upcycling converts a material into something of greater value than it originally was.
- Weaving scraps combined to make a garment
Downcycling – Downcycling converts a material into something of less value than it originally was.
- Shredding fabric for use as padding or insulation
Source – materialtrader.com
Tips for Donating Clothing and Textiles
Many clothing and textile donations find their way to landfills despite our best intentions. Here are a few tips to give your hand-me-downs a longer lease on a useful life:
- Focus donation efforts on organizations actively looking for your items. General donation organizations may not have the capacity to do anything other than send excess capacity to the dumpster or package items for distribution overseas. Better yet, try to give or swap your items with friends!
- Make sure your items are in good shape. Dirty, stained or damaged items may be too much work to bring them into service.
- Take an extra look at your donation pile. Can you find ways to reuse, renew, alter, repair or otherwise retain your items?
Fiber Sustainability Impact Information
Bamboo
TBD
Cotton
TBD
Linen
TBD
Seacell
TBD
Tencel
TBD
Wool
TBD
